Technology: A Communication Barrier?

We’re a wired society with all the latest tools to help us communicate quickly and easily. We can send emails to anyone even at 3 a.m. if we want, but maybe don’t expect an immediate response. We can tweet out event photos to people half-way around the globe, in real time as it happens. We can carry on discreet conversations during a meeting and exchange ideas about what we’re hearing, all without speaking a word.

But could there be times when these communication time-savers are actually huge time-wasters that could damage relationships? We’re so used to firing off an email or a tweet that we sometimes forget about a retro communication tool that’s highly effective and still necessary: having real-life conversations. Do you know when to skip the email and opt for this oldie but goodie? You might be using the wrong tool if…

You find yourself caught in “the song that wouldn’t end,” sending multiple emails back-and-forth about the same topic with no end in sight.

You find yourself spending too much time on a task that should have been pretty straight-forward, like setting up a meeting date/time.

You have to communicate complex information to a number of different people who all want to share their diverse and lengthy points of view…yup, by email.

You have a number of themes, topics or ideas to communicate which increases the likelihood the recipient will respond to some but not all, resulting in…you guessed it, more follow-up emails.

There’s room for email misinterpretation. If in doubt, leave email out. Who knew that seemingly innocuous email would result in sounding the alarm for email reinforcements, and a barrage of angry responses and frowny-face email signatures?

You have something highly sensitive and emotional to communicate like “Hey, you don’t work here anymore” or “I’m sorry I took credit for your PowerPoint presentation.” I know, it’s uncomfortable, but the higher the emotional stakes, the more you’re going to have to bite the bullet and have that face e-to-face conversation.

You’re emotions are going crazy and you run the risk saying something you might regret – something that can be forwarded and shared over and over, long after you’ve come and gone.

These are just a few examples, but it’s important not to get sucked into the false belief that the easiest way to communicate is the most efficient or effective. In a world that demands more and faster, make sure your investing your time and energy in using the right tools.